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Football London
Football London
Sport
Rob Guest

Can Chelsea, Spurs or Arsenal still miss out on the Champions League even if they finish fourth?

The race for the final Champions League place will go down to the wire after Chelsea sealed their spot in next season's competition on Sunday.

Going into their game against Watford in fourth, the Blues registered a crucial 3-0 victory over the Hornets to leapfrog Spurs in the table.

Arsenal's 1-1 draw at home to Brighton & Hove Albion later in the day then meant that the Blues are now guaranteed of a top-four finish as they have a four-point cushion over their London rivals with one game of the season left to play.

Manchester United's draw at basement boys Huddersfield Town now means that it is between Spurs and Arsenal for the final place, although Unai Emery's side really do need a miracle to happen as the Lilywhites have a superior goal difference.

The Gunners need an eight-goal swing on the final day as it stands, meaning Spurs would need to fall to a big defeat against Everton and Arsenal need to register a huge win at Burnley.

Amid the possibility that whoever finishes in fourth this season could miss out on Europe's elite competition due to the possibility of Premier League teams triumphing in the Champions League and Europa League, we've taken a look to see if this is still possible.

Chelsea

Maurizio Sarri's side will be in the Champions League next season after a year away following their victory against Watford.

The Blues can still finish the season in fourth but the scenario where they would be pushed into the Europa League can now not take place.

For that to happen it would have needed both Spurs and Arsenal to finish outside the top four and win the Champions League and Europa League respectively.

While both may well triumph in Europe in the coming weeks, Manchester United cannot finish in third after dropping points at Huddersfield.

Spurs

It would take a sensational set of results on the final day for Spurs to miss out on the top four.

The Lilywhites goal difference is eight better than Arsenal's and it's very hard to see them losing to a big score against Everton and the Gunners running riot at Burnley.

Spurs may well finish the campaign in fourth but they cannot miss out on Champions League football now.

There was a distinct possibility of this happening not so long ago but Manchester United's elimination from the competition against Barcelona means this is impossible.

Ex-referee's verdict on the key incidents in Spurs' defeat at Bournemouth may surprise some fans 

Finishing outside the top four and winning the Champions League would still see them qualify for the tournament next season.

Arsenal

Arsenal really need a miracle to finish in fourth following their draw against Brighton.

If they do indeed manage to finish fourth in the most dramatic of circumstances next weekend then Champions League football will be guaranteed.

The only way they could have missed out was if Spurs and Chelsea finished outside the top four and won their respective European competitions.

Manchester United

The Red Devils can now no longer finish in the top four after their draw against Huddersfield Town.

However, they can still finish the season in fifth above Arsenal if they beat Cardiff City and the Gunners don't pick up maximum points at Turf Moor.

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey in tears as he says his final farewell to the Emirates Stadium 

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